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Tilted Kilt comes to Calgary

An American restaurant chain is opening a new eatery in Calgary and is already causing controversy because of the servers' uniforms.

The Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery is already operating in Edmonton and will soon have a new location on 17th Ave and 4th Street in Calgary.

Servers at the restaurant wear tight and tiny tartan kilts and halter tops.

Scantily clad waitresses are not new to the restaurant industry in Calgary but what is different is that the waitresses are encouraged to chat and socialize with the customers.

"I would describe our costume as, yes, it is what brings people in. We're not denying that we're not selling sex appeal. But we're selling sexy classy, sexy cute, sexy smart, and we're not selling sexy trashy or sexy stupid. Everybody that wears the uniform has to fit the personality and you can't just fit the uniform you have to fit the personality, said Owner Chad Howse.

The establishment is one of a half dozen or so new restaurant and bar chains that emphasizes elements of staff members' physique as much as what is on the menu.

"They're invited to consume, not only consume what's on the menu but to consume either visually with their eyes or in other ways the bodies of the women who are serving the food," said Susan Harris from MRU's Women's Studies.

Some who work in the service industry point out that the attire is not all that different than the short skirts and low cut tops on display in many bars around town.

"I don't know, you see a lot of skirts and shirts like that as well, there's a lot of places that like the kilts and that kind of thing,' said Nicole Swanson.

The restaurant chain is facing at least two lawsuits in the US; one in Georgia and one in Illinois.

The Calgary pub has secured its location but has not finalized all the permits that it needs to open its doors.

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Owners of the Calgary restaurant hope to have all the permits in place for a Stampede opening.